NEWS RELEASE: Another missed opportunity to invest in Healthcare when we need it so much: Doucet

FREDERICTON – New Brunswick Nurses Union President, Paula Doucet, says budget 2024-25 is another disappointing budget for nurses and New Brunswickers, included.

“Just a few weeks ago, we presented the government with a path forward to stabilize and transform our healthcare system by providing the report Recommendations to Stabilize & Transform New Brunswick’s Health Care System,” she said. “The report included recommendations from 17 front-line professional organizations who have first-hand knowledge and expertise, but sadly this government is tone deaf to what experts are recommending. This budget is another missed opportunity to invest in healthcare when we need it so much.”

One of the main recommendations NBNU had made was to invest in remuneration, incentives and benefits to ensure New Brunswick has a chance of retaining nurses and ensuring those we train in the province remain here to work in the public system.

What seems to be lost in the “retention” conversation is the fact that other provinces have recognized that stability is vital – retention “bonuses” are not fee money for nurses, but a way to retain nurses who promise to stay and help fix the system for a number of years.

“Again, this government has failed to recognize the value of retaining nurses in our public healthcare system, instead only vaguely mentioning a fund for ‘marketing programs to recruit and attract domestic and internationally educated resources’. Recruitment is not the answer and we have been saying this for years. Our nurses need a reason to keep going when there are many more attractive options; they need a reason to stay,” said Doucet.

Recently received information from Horizon Health Authority on hires vs. exits in the past year showed that, for example, as of January 31, 2024, 842 nurses had been hired, and 488 quit, for a net gain of 354.  The rate of those leaving is greater than those being recruited –  a clear indication that recruitment alone is insufficient to fill the many vacancies that exist.

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The New Brunswick Nurses Union (NBNU) is a labour organization of approximately 8900 nurses who are employed in various healthcare facilities throughout the province of New Brunswick.

Contact:

Jane Matthews-Clark
Communications Officer
[email protected]
Phone:  506-453-7265
Mobile: 506-897-3951